Old Bridge Medical Center, NJ Reinstates Mask Mandate Amidst Rising COVID-19 Concerns

HI INDIA NEWS DESK

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — It seems that Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s second largest hospital network, has reinstated a mask mandate at three of its hospitals in response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The hospitals where mask mandates are now in place are:

• Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank

• Old Bridge Medical Center

• Carrier Clinic (behavioral health)

• Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin

This decision to implement mask mandates at these specific hospitals may be based on various factors, such as the local COVID-19 transmission rates, the vaccination status of the community, and the hospital’s capacity to handle potential COVID-19 cases. It’s worth noting that as of now, masking remains optional at all other Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals in the state.

As for RWJ/Barnabas Health, which is New Jersey’s largest hospital system, they have not implemented a mask mandate as of Wednesday, and they have stated that masks remain optional.

In addition to Hackensack Meridian Health, Shore Medical Center in Somers Point and Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County have also reinstated mask mandates in September. These hospitals are not part of the Hackensack Meridian network.

In summary, the decision to implement mask mandates in New Jersey hospitals appears to vary by hospital system and may depend on the specific COVID-19 conditions in their respective areas, as well as their individual policies and risk assessments.